Crime key impediment to growth – IRR

Crime is one of the biggest drags on economic growth and a serious obstacle in the way of South Africa reaching its full potential.

So says the Institute of Race Relations, which today launches the latest paper in its Blueprint for Growth series. These papers examine impediments to economic growth and offer solutions to overcoming them.

The latest paper – Solutions to SA’s Crime Crisis to Boost Growth – lays out the current situation, noting that South Africa is one of the world’s most violent countries, with high levels of interpersonal violence. It shows how crime is a quantifiable drag on growth, costing South Africa up to 10% of GDP.

More importantly, as the paper’s author, Marius Roodt, notes, there are real people behind the crime statistics.

“Behind each recorded murder, rape, or assault, there are people and families whose lives and futures have been ruined. Getting crime under control in South Africa is not only an imperative for economic growth, but also vital if we want South Africans to simply be able to live their lives to the fullest, in safety,” says Roodt.

The paper proposes a number of solutions, including legislative reform and allowing greater private sector involvement in finding solutions to the crime crisis. In addition, the paper calls for more policing devolution.

Says Roodt: “South Africa is far too diverse to attempt to centralise policing. The type of policing you need in Kakamas is different from what you need in Alexandra in Gauteng. Decisions cannot be made in Pretoria but need to be made closer to where communities are.”

Evidence from the Western Cape LEAP programme seems to indicate that where these officers are deployed they have made a positive impact on crime, notes Roodt, underscoring the argument that devolution must be the focus of any broad reform of policing in South Africa.

“Devolution won’t even need significant legislative reform; much devolution can already be done within the current framework,” Roodt says.

“Getting crime under control is vital if South Africa is to reach its potential and policing reform will be a key component of this. It is something that can no longer be delayed,” Roodt concludes.

Read the full report here.

Media contact: Marius Roodt Tel: 082 779 7035 Email: marius@irr.org.za

Media enquiries: Michael Morris Tel: 066 302 1968 Email: michael@irr.org.za